HelenKay Dimon - The Big Guns

“So are you. Johnnie landed a punch or two.”

Zach pretended to be offended. “Is that a comment on my manhood?”

“Take it however you want.”

“Men are sensitive about stuff like that, you know.”

“Johnnie needs medical attention.”

She knew how to kill a decent try at chitchat. “Like I care.”

“You’ll care if he’s dead and you’re on trial for his murder.”

“You’re the one who wanted to know why I didn’t shoot him earlier.”

“That was adrenaline talking.”

“Well, Johnnie is lucky I didn’t kill him.” Zach sent a disgusted look in the direction of the locked bathroom. “I might yet.”

“You wouldn’t.”

He scoffed. “Why would you think that?”

“You’re not a killer.”

The matter-of-fact way she said it stunned him. “Sounds as if you’ve had a change of heart about me.”

When he leaned forward, she pulled back, forcing her bruised body deeper into the couch cushions and away from him. “Not that much.”

“I’m trying to help.”

“If you want to help, drive me home. Call Trevor. Do whatever you need to do so I can talk to the police.” Her voice dropped. “Or just leave me alone.”

Hearing her talk about Trevor—her boss and suspected lover—made Zach’s jaw clench tight. “Not going to happen.”

“Which part?”

“Any part.” Especially the part where he left her alone.

He slipped his hands under the hem of her skirt. Ignoring her slapping hands and yelp of surprise, he skimmed what was left of her tattered stockings down her legs and ripped them from around her injured knee.

“What are you doing?” she asked in a voice more breathy than firm.

Yeah, what was he doing? More bad timing. This time his.

Concentrating on her bruise instead of the silky feel of her skin proved impossible. It hit him out of nowhere and without warning. He wanted her.

He knew she was messed up with Trevor, a man Zach despised. She was likely sleeping with the guy, caught up in whatever garbage Trevor had going. But no matter how hard Zach tried to make that matter, it didn’t. After all those days of watching her, studying her, Sela’s image played in his mind, and he could not figure out a way to shake her loose.

He swore under his breath, berating his lack of control. She’d been hurt and mistreated. She’d probably just experienced the worst three hours of her life. All he could think about was bunching that businesslike skirt around her waist.

He had become an animal.

“Well?” she asked.

He swallowed down a lump of unwanted attraction. “It’s not broken, just badly bruised and a bit cut up.”

“Tell me why,” she said.

“I’m not a medical expert, but a bruise has something to do with blood pooling under the skin.”

“Not that.” Her face didn’t show any emotion. “Why did you save me from Johnnie only to drag me back here and continue to keep me against my will?”

Because reinforcements were on the way. Zach knew if he had any hope of finding out the person behind Sela’s kidnapping, he needed to stay put. Knowing Adam was heading there right now made holding the position a bit easier, but Zach still hated being out in the open in a situation he couldn’t control.

“It’s not over,” Zach said.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you tend to talk in half sentences?”

“Once or twice.” With as gentle a touch as possible, he probed the area around her knee. Sela winced and squirmed but stayed quiet. He knew she feared letting him see her weakness. He admired that.

“Call the police.”

“Your knee will feel better in a minute.” He unbuttoned his shirt and yanked it off his shoulders. His sore ribs protested, but it was more important to keep Sela’s knee immobilized and stable than to worry about his battered insides.

He stripped down to his white undershirt and folded his dark shirt into a long, slim bandage. “I know it’s not clean but it should work okay.”

Sela’s body turned to marble. The sudden change caught his attention. His gaze shot up to meet hers. Her seething anger evaporated and in its place came surprise.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

She blinked several times. “Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed. “Tell me.”

When she continued to stare over his shoulder with her mouth clamped shut, he gave up and wrapped her knee. “Better?”

“You keep ignoring my questions. What are we going to do now?” she asked, this time her voice a bit less shaky.

“We’re not going to do anything.”

She leaned against the cushions. “We’re just going to sit here?” If her bulging eyes were any indication, she didn’t like the idea.

“For a second.” He glanced at his watch.

“Care to tell me why?”

“I need to keep Johnnie covered so he doesn’t call in more guys to pick up where he failed. I also want him dragged in and questioned.”

“What does that have to do with us sitting here?”

“I can’t do it alone. We’re waiting for reinforcements.”

“You mean more Recovery agents.” Her mouth twisted as if she’d just smelled spoiled milk.

“You don’t sound too happy about that.”

“No.”

“What did we ever do to you?”

“Adam Wright threatened to kill me.”

The news surprised Zach…and it didn’t. When Adam had thought Trevor kidnapped Maddie, Adam’s woman, he’d stormed into Orion with guns loaded. Sela had tried to get in the way, which was one of the things Zach both admired and upset him about her. Loyalty was an impressive commodity. Too bad sleeping with Trevor blew every positive attribute apart.

Zach cleared his throat as he blinked the disturbing idea from his mind. “I’m thinking you’re exaggerating.”

“He held a gun on me.”

“Well, yeah, that sounds like him.” Zach could imagine that happening. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll force him to apologize the second he gets here.”

“When will that be?”

Zach stared at his watch one more time. “Good question.”

“Could you narrow it down?”

“My guess is about five minutes from now.”

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